WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY AND ICC
TO OFFER DEGREE AND LICENSURE PROGRAM

CULLOWHEE – Western Carolina University, in partnership with Isothermal Community College, will offer interested students an opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree or teacher licensure in elementary education in Rutherford County beginning in August.

An information session for the program will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 20, in Room 125 of Building 1 at Isothermal Community College in Spindale.

The degree and licensure program is needed because “public schools are in critical need of well-qualified teachers and this program will help school systems like Rutherford County to ‘grow their own' from among their residents who might not otherwise have an opportunity to obtain the training and credentials required,” said Dale Carpenter, associate dean of the College of Education and Allied Professions at Western.

Designed for adults who intend to enroll as part-time students, all classes will be offered at ICC using on-site classroom instruction and Web-enhanced instruction.

The program is open to persons who hold associate's degrees and wish to complete a bachelor's degree in elementary education, as well as those who have earned bachelor's degrees and want to obtain K-6 licensure.

Western's teacher education program has been designated as “exemplary” by the Performance Report on Teacher Education Programs issued by the State Board of Education.